WWE Raw report: John Cena backed by Ric Flair and bruised by Roman Reigns
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins removed from main event in Virginia
Last Updated: 15/07/14 4:49pm
John Cena may not be the fan favourite heading into the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at Battleground but he has the backing of a WWE Hall of Famer.
Cena was picked by Ric Flair as the man most likely to emerge from Sunday’s Fatal Four-Way with gold, though the Nature Boy may be reconsidering his choice in the wake of Raw’s main event.
Cena and Reigns defeated Battleground enemies Kane and Randy Orton via disqualification on Monday night when The Big Red Monster and the Viper battered the ex-Shield man illegally.
WWE BATTLEGROUND
1am, Sun (Mon), Sky Sports Box Office
However, Reigns quickly regained his strength and Speared not only Kane but tag-team partner Cena, too, showing that he will be a tough man to combat in this weekend’s title tussle.
Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins were scheduled to make Raw’s showpiece dust-up a six-man tag, but the former was removed from the clash before it began and the later whilst it was in situ.
The Lunatic Fringe was destroyed backstage by Kane, Orton and Rollins and taken to a medical facility, while Mr Money in the Bank Rollins was summoned from the ring after tweaking his knee mid-match.
Fitness permitting, Ambrose and Rollins will settle their differences at Battleground and the card for Sunday’s Sky Sports Box Office event swelled on Raw, with more men being added to the Intercontinental Championship Battle Royal and an America versus Russia duel made official.
Debated
The Miz – a victor over United States Champion Sheamus in a non-title match in Virginia – Sin Cara, Zack Ryder, Adam Rose, Diego, R-Truth, Xavier Woods, Heath Slater and Titus O’Neil were all entered to the Intercontinental Title scrap on the red brand.
Plus, Rusev accepted Jack Swagger’s challenge of a match inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum – after Lana and Zeb Colter had debated the merits of Russia and before Swagger caught the unbeaten Super-Athlete in the Patriot Lock.
Elsewhere, Alberto Del Rio, Big E and Bo Dallas recorded victories over Rob Van Dam, Cesaro and The Great Khali, and Divas Champion AJ Lee and her weekend challenger, Paige, engaged in an awkward-if-sporting conversation after The Black Widow had downed Eva Marie.
Fandango, meanwhile, was beaten by Dolph Ziggler, with his evening made worse when former love interests Summer Rae and Layla danced off with The Show-Off, while Nikki Bella came up short in her two-on-one handicap battle with Cameron and Alicia Fox.
Plus, there was a grave demonstration of the force of The Wyatt Family.
Firstly, Bray Wyatt used the dimming of the lights, as well as Luke Harper and Erick Rowan, to outwit Chris Jericho and plunder the Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla with Sister Abigail.
And Harper and Rowan followed that with an assault of their own, eviscerating Jimmy and Jey Uso before the Samoan twins could lock horns with Heath Slater and Titus O’Neil.
BATTLEGROUND BOOKING DETAILS
WWE Battleground will be shown at 1am, Sunday, July 20 (Monday morning) on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 743) and Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 752).
WWE Battleground will be repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 743) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 752) until 9pm on Saturday, July 26.
Repeats showing will last for three hours, with the final showing BEGINNING at 9pm on Saturday, July 26.
The event is priced at £14.95 for UK customers, €21.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.
Viewers can call 08442 410 888 to book WWE Battleground from Tuesday, July 8. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
You can book WWE Battleground online from Tuesday, July 8 by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/
You can also order WWE Battleground at a later date by pressing the Box Office button on your remote. Select 'sports & events' and follow the on-screen instructions.
Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.
